Ladle crane



Sept 4, 1928. 1,683,472 v H. M. LANE LADLE QRANg Filed Janv. ,7,1926 2 sheet's-'s'heet 1 351s Ofi/@921 I attorney 'Septo 4,1923.

` l,683,472 H. M. LANE LDLE CRANE Filed Jan. v,- 1926 2 sneeas-sneet 2` F l n Patented Sept. 4,

HENRY LVI. LANE, Ol DETRGT, MCHIG-AN.

nanna oai-inn.

Application filed January 7, 1926. Serial No. 79,

This invention relates to ladle cranes and it comprises a ladle having traversing and elevating means and means for swinging it to afford -a desired adjustment across the horizontal line of travel of the crane for positioning the pouring lip during the pouring operation; all as more fully hereinafter set forth and as claimed.

In ladle cranes now in use, the crane carrying the ladle travels in a fixed horizontal line and the ladle may be elevated or lowered in a vertical line, as is shown in my prior Patent No. 1,266,828 of May 21, 1918,. lVhile there are certain advantages in this type of construction, it is subject to certain disadvantages particularly when there are gangs of molds or molds arranged in line to be filled. This disadvantage arises through the fact that as the ladle is gradually tilted more and more toward the hori- Zontal as successive molds are poured, the

pouring lip or edge of the ladle moves outv of alinement with the line of travel of the crane or the line of position of the molds, and while this can be compensated for to some extent by positioning of the molds, it is not always possible since' it is not an easy matter to anticipate the degree to which the ladle will be tilted for the pouring of any particular mold.-

According to the presentinvention this disadvantage is overcome by mounting the ladle to make it capable of relative movement either to the right or left of its supporting member so that as the crane travels the ladle can be adjusted in pouring position to compensate for normal displacement which would occur by ordinary tilting'.

1n the accompanying drawings, l have illustrated an advantageous embodiment of my invention,

In the showing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a crane e'mbodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1

Fig. 4 is a section on line l--l of Fig. 2

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of series of gang molds; and,

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic end view illustrating different positions to which the ladle may be placed when pouring metal.

rlfhe trolley frame A is 1provided with trolley wheels 1 mounted in hangers 2 carried by the frame and adapted te travel upon ,overhead rail D.

i motor 3 supplies the with guide members 6. These guide members 6 are adapted to move vertically in the depending guide members 7 formed on the trolley frame A. Pivotally supportedV to and positioned beneath the beam C is a ladle carrying frame D. The ladle 8, used in connection with this machine, j is provided4 'with trunnions 9 and 10 for the purpose of engaging the arms 11 which are suitably connected to theladle frame D@ rlhe trunnions l() carry a gear wheel`12 which meshes with a pinion or smaller gear wheel 18 mounted on a shaft 14C carried by the arm 15 on the cage 16. The shaft 14- is journaled in an enlarged bearing 17 in the cage 16 and is provided with a hand wheel 18.

The ladle frame D is pivotally supported to the beam C at 19. The beam C has suitably secured to one side thereof, depending arms 2O provided with rollers 21 on their opposite ends for engaging the under side of the ladle frame D thereby allowing relative easy movement between these two frames. The ladle frame is provided with a raclr bar 22 suitably secured to the cute surface thereof which is adapted to engage awo'rm gear 23. A shaft 24 upon which the pinion is carried is provided at one end with bevel gear 25 Vadapted to mesh` with the bevel gear 2G carried by the'shaft 27. A ball and socket joint 28 connects shaft 27 to the operating shaft 29. Tele-sc opically positioned within the shaft 29 is a shaft 30 connected to the hand wheel 31 whereby-movement of the ladle frameD is controlled with respect to the beam C. 1f desired, the operating shaft 29 may be a single shaft and this is advantageously used with equal success.

rlhe operation of the ladle crane is as follows:. l

Assuming a gang of molds such as shown in Fig. 6 is to be filled, the crane carrying the ladle is brought into position between the first molds through operation of the traversing mechanism described. By the elevating mechanism the ladle is raised to the required height and tilted to Aposition to pour into the lower left hand mold as shown in Fig. 6. rllhe ladle is then further elevated and through operation of handle 3l, shafts 30 and 29 and gears 25 and 26, pinion 23 and rack 22, the ladle is swung to one side of the normal line of travel of the crane so that when vit is further tilted for the purpose of pouring into the next higher mold to the left, its lip will be directly over the sprue. This operation is repeated for filling the next higher mold in the gang. The ladle may then be positioned in vertical relation and conveyed to the next succeeding series of molds where the operation aforementioned is repeated. After the series of molds have been poured on the one side of the gangway, and it is desired to pour the series on the right side ot' the ladle, the ladle is brought to vertical position adjacent the lower right hand mold and through the operation of the mechanism aforementioned, the ladle frame is swung to the right so that the lip of the ladle is moved out of the center line of travel thereby affording opportunity for the pouring of the metal. into the lower right hand mold, or, of course, after molds on the one side are poured, the ladle may be tilted to pour molds on the opposite side.

lVhat I claim is l. A ladle crane comprising a ladle and a frame, elevating and traversing means therefor and means for swinging said ladle across the horizontal line of travel of the crane.

2. A ladle crane comprising a ladle, means for supporting the ladle, means for tilting the ladle, and means for swinging the ladle across the horizontal Yline of travel of the crane.

A ladle crane comprising a ladle, ladle supporting means, an operators cage carried by the crane in fixed relation to the ladle supporting means, means for elevating the ladle supporting means and cage, traversing means tor the crane and means operable from the cage for swinging said ladle and supporting means across the horizontal line of travel of the crane. n

4. A ladle crane comprising a ladle, vladle supporting means, elevating and traversing means, an operators cage carried by said crane, means operable from said cage for tilting the ladle and swinging the ladle and supporting means transversely ofthe line of travel of the crane. y

5. A ladle crane comprising a trolley frame, a ladle frame, means for elevating the ladle frame in thev trolley frame, ladle supporting means carried by the ladle trame, an operators cage within said ladle frame in fixed relation to said ladlesupporting means and means operable from said cage for swinging said ladle and supporting means 'transversely of the line of travel of the crane.

6. A ladle crane comprising a trolley frame having depending guide members, a member telescopically positioned between said guide members, a ladle frame pivotally supported by said member and means can ried by said ladle frame whereby the ladle trame .may be swung transversely of the line oit.' travel of; the crane.

7. A ladle crane comprising a trolley trame having depending guide members, a transverse member slidable in said guide members, a ladle frame pivotally secured to 'said transverse member, a rack carried `by said ladle frame and means in cooperation with said rack for swinging the ladle trame transversely across the line `of travel of the crane.

8. A ladie crane comprising a trolley traine having depending guide members, a transverse member slidable in said guide members, a ladle frame positioned beneath said transverse member and pivotally supported thereby, a. ladle carried by said ladle frame, means for tilting the ladle, a raclr carried by said ladle frame, ar pinion engaging said rack, gear members for operating said pinion and means connected to said gear members for controlling the movement thereof for swinging the ladle frame transversely across theline of travel of the crane.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto aiiixed my signature.

HENRY M. LANE. 

